be winter



J. N. DE WINTER.

FLUID EXPLODED 0RDNANCE.'

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1918.

1,324,733. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR.

M 6m ATTORNEY J. N.'DE WINTER;

FLUID EXPLODED ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. H8.

1,324,733. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.'

illustrated, a single and. preferred. form of JOSEPH 1\T. DE WINTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLUID-EXPLODED ORIDNANCE.

Application filed NovemberG, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. DE \VINTER, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Exploded-0rdnance, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates generally to fluid exploded ordnance. 1

An object of the invention is to provide a gun in which the maximum of Power can be obtained and directly spent against the shell, while practically eliminating the dangers of firing.

Another object of the invention resides inthe construction of a gun in which the barrel and breech are designed to accommodate ordinary shells or projectiles without requiring any chan es in the construction thereof in order to efiectuate a perfect firing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid exploded gun which will consist generally of a barrel having a fluld confining chamber, mechanism forsupplying a charge of fluid to the chamber and forcompressing the same, the valve mechanism at the breech for causingthe compressed charge when exploded to be entirely spent against the shell. i

A still further object of the lnventlon pertains to a novel combination of parts which, while permitting of a maximum expenditure of force against the shell Wlll be of an extremely compact and simple nature. v I

A still further object of the invention 1s to provide, a gun including a valve at 1ts breech adapted to be opened to a firing chamber, and a breech block separable from the valve whereby to permit of the loading of the gun from the breech.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a gun in which novel means will be employed for compressing an explosive charge and for exposing the shell to the action of the charge at the requisite moment, and with despatch and facility.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the 111 vention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will here1nafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, has been Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No: 261,378.

PatentedDec. 9, 1919'.

the invention, it being however, understood that no limitations are necessarilymade to the precise structural detailstherein exhibited, but thatchanges, alterations and mo difications within thescope of the claims may be resorted t0;when desired.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection,

through thegun.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the -breech of 'the gun wlth the valveremoved,

3 is a side-view of thevalve F 1g. 4c 1s a side view of the breech block.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the pins or keepers for the breech block.

In devising the gun which will be presently explained in full detail, I have endeavored to provide a construction and mechanismwherein the barrel will adapt itself to shells or, projectiles of ordinary construction. I have also perfected an ar-.

rangement whereby atmospheric air canbe compressed and exploded in the presence of the shell, while at the same time taking into.

consideration the possible use, and perhaps efficiency at times of various explosive charges, other than powder, such-as vaporlzed gasolene or other volatile substance. I w1sh also to emphaslze theimportance of compactness of parts, the ease, facility and despatch with which the entire mechanism I can be operated with the minimum possi bility of. danger and with a creation of a high measure of force against the shell.

The invention both broadly and SPGQlfi,

- cally will now be described as fOllOWS-1.-.

10 represents the barrel of the gun of the V gun and a connecting cylinder 13 between the heads. Adjacent to the forward end of cured to the shell 15 in any suitable Well.

known manner but I prefer to bolt the same thereto as at 18 and provide packing gaskets 19 between the peripheral faces of the several heads and the inner walls of the shell 15. In this manner the respective chambers- 16 and17 are rendered fluid tight except to straight bore type, said barrel including spaced heads 11 and 12 at the breech of the some minor extent in the chamber 16 for,

purpose to be hereinafter explained...

ciprocating the piston.

complishing the desired result resldes in the The connecting cylinder 13 opens directly to the barrel and it is provided with portways 20 which open to the chamber 17. The head 12 is provided with intake valves 21 which are designed to establish communication between the chambers 16 and 17 certain intervals of operation of the mechanism. These valves open in the direction of the chamber 17 and are closed in an opposite direction by springs 22. Sliding over the barrel 10 is a piston 23 having a lateral head 4: which operates as a compressor. The piston head is provided with packing gaskets 25 which impinge against the inner walls of the chamber 16. The chamber 16 is provided with an intake valve 26 which is adapted to communicate with a source of fuel supply when gasolene or other motive fluid is employed and which is arranged to open directly to the atmosphere when it is desired to use atmospheric charges as an explosive medium. It will be observed incident to this construction that on the stroke of the piston in the direction of the arrow (a), the fluid will be drawn into the chamber 16 between the piston head 24 and the barrel head 12 and that on a reverse operation of the piston, the charge taken in will be compressed and forced past the valves 21 into the chamber 17, ready to be fired in a manner to be described. hereinafter. Any suitable well known mechanism may be employed for re- One mode of ac provision of a rack surface 27 on the piston,

- a pinion 28 on a driven shaft 29 and a power form of spark plug, while on the rotary exploding chamber 17.

transmitting wheel 30. The latter may be of a design to be driven by hand, motor or otherwise as this is immaterial as long as the requisite power is supplied to the shaft 29. What mechanism is employed, however, must permit of opposite reciprocal movements of the piston.

Within the cylinder 13 defined by the con necting portion of the barrel between the respective heads 11 and 12, is a rotary valve 31 having annular gaskets 32 adapted to en gage against the bore of said cylinder to iormally establish an air tight connection. The valve is provided with portways 33 which are adapted to register with the portways 20 when the valve is adjusted to one position. When aejusted to another position the portways 20 and 33 are closed with respect to each other and as a consequence thereof no communication is established between the barrel of the gun and the charge This valve may be rotated by hand and for this purpose it is provided at its butt end with a manipulating extension or handle 34. Within the chamber 17 is'a firing mechanism 35 in the valve is a contact member 36 in the form of an adjustable screw which is adapted to cothe gun from the breech.

ling pinions 41 which engage the rack teeth 12 of the sliding pins. These pinions are actuated by a hand lever 43 located at the rear of the breech block.

A suitable gage M is connected with the chamber 16 whereby the operator can readily determine the state of compression of the fluid under the action of the reciprocating piston when the valves 21 are opened.

Having described the principal details of construction of the gun, the operation thereof is set forth as follows: The fluid capable of being fired on compression when sucked past the intake valve 26 under the action of the piston head 24 in one direction will, on an operation in the reverse direction of the piston head be compressed and simultaneously made to enter the chamber 17. In the latter,- the compressed charge is stored until it is desired to fire the gun, at which time the valve 31 is rotated whereby to open the portways 20 and 33 relatively simultaneously with an engagement of the contact member 36 with the firing mechanism 35. It is, of course, understood that the breech block 3'? permits of a loading of It is further seen that when in position, the butt of the shell will be located immediately in advance of the portways 20. Assuming that the breech block is in a fixed position and the valve 31 rotated as just described; above, the projectile or shell will be fired from its barrel under the explosive action of the compressed charge.

In the drawing, it will be observed that the head 1 is not in air tight connection with the piston 23 and that said head is provided with a central bore 14, through which the piston is slidable. The diameter of the bore sufficiently exceeds the outside diameter of the piston so as to establish an exhaust port for the discharge of the air at the side of the piston on the return stroke thereof.

hen a hydrocarbon is used I find that its measure of efliciency as an explosive agent can be increased through surrounding the compression chamber about the barrel so that the heat from the latter and adjacent surfaces of the structure will accelerate the volatilization of the fluid and thus render the compressed charge moreefi'ective.

Within the breech block are rotary control- What is claiined as new is: x 1.-A gun of the class described compr1singa barrel having ports in its breech end, i a chamber surroundmg said end and in communication with the ports, a valve for controlling said ports, means for introducing an explosive mixture into said chamber, firing means 1n said chamber and means'for a valve controlling the ports, firing means in the firing chamber and means for simul taneously operating said means and the valve. 7

3. A gun comprising a barrel having surrounding normally non-communicating fluid compressing andfiuid exploding chambers respectively, means for establishing, communication between said chambers to permit of the receipt and retention by the exploding chamber of a compressed fluid charge, and means in the barrel normally separating the projectile to be fired from the exploding chamber and operable to directly subject the projectile to the action of an exploding charge in said chamber;

4. In a gun of the class described, the combination with a barrel havinga compression chamber, and anexploding chamber, the latter embodying means for permit- 7 ting of-the reception of a compressed explosive fluid in said exploding-chamber, a pis-- tonreciprocating over the barrel and working in said compression chamber, and means normally closing the exploding chamber to the barrel and adjustable to permit of communication of the barrel with said chamber.

5. In a gun of the class described, a barrel having a portway at its breech and a surrounding exploding chamber, means for compressing a fluid charge in said chamber, and'a ported valve mounted in the breech of the barrel, said valve co-acting with the portway in the barrel and serving to open the barrel to the exploding chamber.

6. In a gun of the class described, a barrel having a portway at its breech and an exploding chamber, means for compressing a fluid charge in said chamber, a rotary valve in the breech of the gun provided with a portway co-acting with the portway of the barrel, and a removable breech block mounted in one end of the valve and serving when removed to permit of a breech loading of the barrel.

7. In a gunof the class described, a barrel having-a portway at its breech and an 7 exploding chamber surrounding the ported portion of thebarrel, a rotary valve at the I breech of the barreL-said valve-ported to co-act withlthe'portway of thebarrel, a ,7

portion of the barrel, a rotary valve at the breech of the barrel, said valve ported to co-act with. the portway of the barrel, .a breechblock insertible in one end of the valveand including mechanism for efiecting its locked condition with the barrel and a relatively free condition with the valve, means for supplying the exploding chamber with an explosive charge, firing mechanism in the exploding chambenand means operable on. rotation of the valve to aline the mentioned portways for actuating said firing mechanism. i 9. In a. gun of the class described, a barrelhaving a portway at its breech and an exploding chamber surrounding the ported portion ofthe barrel, a rotary valve at the breech of the barrel, said valve ported to co-act.with.,.the portwayv of,the barrel, a. breech block insertible in one end lot the .valve-and includingmechanism for effectbreech of the barrel, said valve ported to co-act with the portway of the barrel, a breech block insertible in one end of the valve and including mechanism for efl'ecting its locked condition with the barrel and a relatively free condition with the barrel and a relatively free condition with the valve, means for supplying the exploding chamber with an explosive r-narge, firing mechanism in the exploding chamber, means carried by the valve for actuating said firing mechanism, the former disposed in the path of movement of the latter as the valve is rotated.

11. In a gun of the class described, a barrel having surrounding fluid compressing and fluid exploding chambers respectively,

exploding chamber and adapted valves between said chambers, a valved intake leading to the compressing chamber, a piston operating in said compressing cham her and including a rack surface, power transmittin mechanism co-acting with said rack surface to reci rocate the piston, and mechanism normally seal ing the barrel from 'the exploding chamber and adapted to establish communication therewith.

12. in a gun of the class described, a barrel havin surrounding fluid compressing and fluid exploding chambers respectively,

valves between said chambers, a'valved in-' chamber, a piston operating in said compressing chamber and including a rack surface, power transmitting mechanism co-acting with said rack surface to reciprocate the piston, mechanism normallysealing the barrel from the exploding chamber, and adapted to establish communication therewith, said communication establishing mechanism embodying a ported breech end of the barrel, a rotary valve mounted in the breech and a breech block insertible in one 1 I V E end of the valve and havlng means 101' locking connection with the barrel.

14:.- A gun of the class described comprising a barrel having an exploding chamber, the breech of the barrel ported to the exploding chamber, a cylindrical rotary ported valve working in the barrel and coacting with the ported breech thereof, the forward end of the valve opening toward the front of the barrel, and a block closing the rear end of the valve.

15. A gun of the class described comprising a barrel havin an exploding chamber, the breech of the arrel ported to the exploding chamber, a ported valve working in the barrel and c0- acting with the ported breech thereof, the forward end of the valve opening toward cylindrical rotary the front of the barrel, a block closing the rear end of the valve, and removably connected with the barrel to permit the barrel to be loaded from the breech and through the valve.

16. A gun of the class described COHIPIlS- ing a barrel havin an exploding chamber, the breech of the barrel ported to the exploding chamber, a cylindrical rotary ported valve working in the barrel and co-acting with the ported breech thereof, the forward end of the valve opening toward the front of the barrel, a block closing the rear end of the valve and removably connected with the barrel to permit the barrel to be loaded from the breech and through the valve,

means for supplying the exploding chamber with an explosive charge, firing mechanism for said exploding chamber, and means operable on movement of the valve to open the barrel to the exploding chamber for actuating said firing mechanism.

17. In a gun of the class described, a barrel, a casing encircling said barrel and subdivided to provide a fluid compressing chamber and an exploding chamber, valve means between said chambers, a valved fluid intake for the compressing chamber, and a valve for opening the barrel to said explosive chamber.

18. In a of the class described, a barrel, a casing encircling said barrel and subdivided to provide a fluid compressing chamber and an exploding chamber, valve means between said chambers, a valved tiuid intake for the compressing chamber, a valve for opening the barrel to said explosive chamber, said last valve mounted for rotation in the barrel at the breech thereof.

19. A gun of the class described comprising a barrel having valve separated compressing and exploding chambers respectively, means for taking in a supply of fluid to said compressing chamber and for compressing the same in the exploding chamber, a cylindrical valve mounted to rotate in the breech of the barrel, said valve hav ing a portway, the breech of the barrel having a portway adapted to register with the first named portway when the valve is adjusted to one position, the portway in the barrel leading to the exploding chamber, and means for closing the rear end of the rotary valve.

1' testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOSEPH N. DE WINTER. 

